Documenting and Creating Multimedia Content

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Description of Tool or App


iMovie is an movie creation and video editing application for iOS devices. iMovie allows the user to create and edit movies or trailers using pre-designed themes. User may add text overlay and sound effects, including background music to their movies. Photos, videos, and music may be imported from the user's iLibrary or taken/recorded within the app. Currently, iMovie costs $4.99 and is available in the iTunes App Store. This module will focus on the movie creation application (as opposed to the trailer). iMovie can be used by students or instructors to create learning objects.

Benefits of Tool or App

  • Pre-installed movie themes are simple, easy to use, and may be changed during development.
  • Projects may include a combination of photo and video, either imported or created within the app.
  • Video clips may be trimmed, split, rotated, or rearranged using the editing features.
  • Pictures may be used to create a slide show or may be integrated with video clips in the finished product.
  • Pre-installed sound effects are varied, with more than 60 choices, and are stackable.
  • Background music may be looped, so that a song repeats as many times as necessary to cover the entire project.
  • A simple record feature allows easy addition of voiceovers or ambient/other sounds.
  • Titles and text may be added to any project.
  • Location data may be included in each project.
  • Movies may be exported easily in various resolutions to an iPhone/iPad camera roll, YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, CNN iReport, and iTunes. (This export to iTunes provides an easy backup/archive.)
  • Movies may be viewed on Apple TV.

Constraints of Tool or App

  • iMovie only works on iOS (Apple) devices and only for iOS 5.1 and above; therefore, 1st Generation iPad users can not use iMovie. iMovie will not work on Android or Windows-based system.
  • Editing features are not intuitive, although they are easy to use once a user learns the required gestures.
  • Pre-installed movie themes are limited (currently less than 10 themes are available).
  • Pre-installed theme music is limited (currently less than 10 themes are available).
  • Uploaded song/sound effects are limited; for example, looping is possible only when the project has a single background music clip.
  • Imported music from iTunes or other accounts may create copyright issues.
  • Fonts and styles for titles and text are very limited.
  • Location data, which is included by default, can be confusing to edit or delete from a project, which can create privacy or safety concerns.
  • Files do not sync through iCloud, so a project started on one iOS device must be completed on the same device (although projects can be uploaded to iTunes and shared across devices this way).

How To Use Tool or App

This screencast, created with Screencast-O-Matic and the Reflector app covers the fundamentals of making a movie with iMovie.




iMovie Tips are available from Apple here.

Original Artifact of Tool or App (created by someone in your house)


Mock lawyer advertisement created using the iMovie app on iOS 6.1.3 using a 3rd Generation iPad. This video will be used in law school ethics classes to test students on the rules governing lawyer advertisements.
(This movie was exported in 720p HD.)


















IDEAS for Tool or App

Student

  • Self-reflection and assessment through video of instructor-directed or student-led activities.
  • Providing peer feedback via video on class activities.
  • Creating video/movies for portfolio use before or after graduation.
  • Documenting an interview with a subject-matter expert in the students field.

Teacher

  • Creating instructional videos for initial content introduction or for follow-up/reinforcement/review.
  • Documenting student progress throughout a course or degree program.
  • Providing feedback via video for individual or group assignments and projects.
  • Providing class resource (textbook, etc.) alternatives for the visually impaired or others with learning disabilities.

Business Institutions


  • Creating instructional videos for human resources or other departments.
  • Creating easy marketing content for social media or web sharing (especially good for non-profit institutions). This may include constituent videos or testimonials.
  • Providing employee feedback via video for individual or group assignments and projects.